KitchenAid Kitchenaid Artisan 5-Quart Review

I had wanted a Kitchenaid mixer/blender for several years when I finally saw a good sale at Amazon.com on the Artisan version (5-quart bowl) and bought one.  I've loved it for the past 4 years and it has made baking/cooking so much easier and less time-consuming.  I love to bake and this has just been the extra set of hands I needed.  It's not loud; just about what you would expect of a counter-top mixer.  I got rid of my breadmaker, thinking this would work just as well, but the bread mixer attachment doesn't do the equivalent job of kneading so don't bank on that.  The whisk and regular mixing attachment both do a great job.  I also purchased the pasta making attachment separately and that has made making pasta completely enjoyable for even our children to aid in the kitchen.  Who wouldn't want homemade pasta at a fraction of the effort?  I've had friends say that the ice cream attachment makes great homemade ice cream too but I haven't tried that out.  In my opinion, any Kitchenaid product is something I would take a second look at.